Mechanism for operating valves of engines



No Model.)` v4 sheets-sheet 1.

-J. D. WILLIAMSON, Jr. MECHANISM FOR OPERATING VA'LVESF ENGINES.

4 sheetssheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. D. WILLIAMSON, Jr. MEGHANISM'FOR OPERATING VALV No. 567,671.

ES 0F ENGINES.

Patented Sept. 15, 1896.

INVENTOR ATTOR N EY (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen 3.'

JD. WILLIAMSON, Jr. MBCHANISM FOR OPERATINGVALVES 0F ENGINES.

No;567,671. .Patente-d Sept.' 15, 1896-` Nro/mer l(No Model.) v l l 4 Sheets-'Sheet 4.

JLD. WILLIAMSON, Jr. MEOHANISM FOR OPERATING VALVES 0F ENGINES.

No. 567.671'. Patent-Bdsm. 15, 1896.

Wl TNSSES lll VEN T01? BYv NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. VILLIAIWISON, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IVIEOHANISIVI FOR OPERATING VALVES OF ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,671, dated September 15, 1896.

Application filed May 15,1894. Serial No. 511,344. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer/ft:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. VILLIAMSON, Jr., of the city arid county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Mechanism for Operating Valves of Steam. and other Engines, which invention is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is sufficiently indicated by its title above given.

The invention will first be described in detail, and then set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view of a valve-operating mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken through Fig. l at the line ct l). Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken through Fig. l at the line c d. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing my invention as applied to a steam steering-engine. Fig. 5 is a View in plan of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 show in side and end elevation, respectively, enlarged views of the valve-operating mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5, cert-ain parts of the steering-engine being omitted. Fig. 8 shows a modified form of valve-operating mechanism hereinafter described.

In said gures the several parts are rcspec tively indicated by numbers, as follows:

The number 1 indicates a shaft carried in bearings in standards 2, Figs. 4 and 5, and provided for a portion of its length with screw-threads 3. Fitted to and surrounding this screw-threaded shaft is a long sleeve or hollow rod 4, preferably provided with a grooved surface 5. At or near the central part of said sleeve or nut thev projections forming the grooves are cut away and two half-rings G are fitted in, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3. An annular casting or flanged ring 7, which derives movement from the sleeve 4, is held in position between two fixed collars 8, secured to the sleeve 4, by springs 9, supported and sliding upon rods 10, secured to movable collars lll. The collars 1l are grooved so as to fit into the 'grooves in the sleeves 4. The ring7 can move laterally over the entire grooved surface of the sleeve 4 until the springs 9 on one side of said ring are fully compressed. The collars 1l are held by said springs against the two halfrings 6, and said collars can move no further inwardly t-han their central positions of original adjustment.

Any desired number of the springs 9 may be used, distributed circumferen tially.

In Figs. 4 to 7 the device above described is shown applied to a steam steering-engine for operating the controlling-valve of the same. Connected to the ring 7 is a forked lever or pair of arms 12, Figs. 4, G, and 7, mounted upon a short shaft 13, two stops 35 being provided for limiting the movement of this lever. Connected to the lever 12 are two connectingrods 14, the other ends of which are connected to a forked lever 2G, lwhich corresponds to the lever12 and is mounted upon a long shaft 16. ASecured to the shaft 16 are the upper ends of two arms l5, the lower ends of which are connected, by means of links 27, to the valve-rod 2S of the valve 29 of the steering-engine, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Said engine is provided with a drumshaft 17, carrying the usual chain-drum 1S, and operated from the cylinderslf) by con- Y necting-rods 20, crank-shaft 21, and w0rmgearing 22. Said drum-shaft I7 has secured to it a gear-wheel 23, which meshes with a spur-pinion 24, secured to the sleeve or nut 4 surrounding the shaft l.

The shaft l may be provided with a handwheel, Fig. 6, for operating the same, orsaid shaft may be operated by any shafting or gear ing, or by any telemotor mechanism, whether mechanical,electric, hydraulic,or pneumatic.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows: If the shaft l be rotated by the hand-wheel 30,' or any other suitable means connected thereto, the screw-threads 3 thereon will cause the sleeve or nut 4 to slide laterally, carrying with it the ring 7. This movement of the ring 7 will, through the instrumentality of the lever l2,connected thereto, and the shaft 13, rods l4,arms 2t, shafts 1G, arms 15, links 27, and valve-rod 28, open the controlling-valve 29 of the steering-engine, and thus cause said engine to movethe rudder into the desired position. The valve is held open until the movement of the steering-engine causes the gear-wheel 23 on the drumshaft 17 to revolve the pinion 24. This revolution of the pinion 24 will cause the sleeve 4, to which itis secured,to rotate on the screwthreaded shaft l and move backward, thus returning the flanged ring 7 and lever 12 to their original positions and closing the valve of the engine. The springs 9 are made strong enough to effect the movement of the ring 7 in either direction.

It is obvious that if the shaft 1 be rotated in the opposite direction to that above described the valve of the engine and also the rudder will be moved in the opposite direction.

The mechanism herein described presents the im portant advantage of preventing breakage of any of the valve connections should the lever 12 bring up against either of the stops 35, or should the valve 0f the engine stick on its seat or reach the end of its stroke while the shaft 1 is revolving, as in such case the ring 7 will cease its lateral movement, the sleeve or nut 4, however, continuing to slide laterally until the springs 9 on one side or the other of said ring, as the case maybe, are compressed. Said springs will thus prevent breakage of any of the valve connections. This construction also provides for the steering-wheel being put hard over to either side when the rudder has been put hard over by the engine, should the engine in thus acting have moved the rudder in advance of the hand steering-wheel; or should the action of the hand-wheel hold the valve open after the rudder gets hard overand before the handwheel has turned its full number of turns to either side the hand-wheel can still be revolved until it completes its full number of turns by compressing the springs. In this case the hand-wheel can be reversed from hardover, in unison with a hard-over helm, to amidships or any other reverse pointl desired.

In Fig. 8 a modication of my invention is shown in which the screw-threads on the shaft 1 and also the hollow sleeve or nut 4 are dispensed with. rlhe shaft 1 is shown in said figure as a plain rod, to which are keyed the fixed collars 8. Connected to said shaft or rod is one end of a lever 36, Fig. 3, fulcrumed at the point 37. This lever may be operated by hand, or it may be connected to a rod leading from a telemotor or other actuating device, so as to impart reciprocating motion to the shaft 1. A ioating lever 31 has one end connected to the ring 7, its other end being connected to the piston-rod 19n of the cylinder 19. rlhe valve-rod 28 is connected to the lever 31 at the point 32, two stops 35 being provided to limit the movement of said lever. If the operating-lever 36 be moved so as to impart reciprocating motion to the shaft 1 in the direction of the arrow f, the lever 31 will effect the movement of the valve-stem in the same direction and open the valve to admit steam into the cylindcr 19. The piston-rod 19 will thus be forced in the direction of the arrow g, carrying with it the lever 31 and valve-stem 28,and thereby closing the valve. If in opening the valve the lever 31 should bring up against one of the stops 35 and the shaft 1 be still kept in motion by the lever 36, one set of springs 9 will compress and hold the valve open until the engine has moved the required distance to close the valve. For example, with the parts moving in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 8, the continued movement of the lever 36 after the lever 31 has impinged against the stop 35 will result in com pressing the springs 9 at the right-hand side, thus preventing breakage of any of the parts.

It is obvious that the lever 36 may be substituted for the wheel 30, (shown in Fig. 6,) in which case the movement of said lever will impart reciprocating motion to both the shaft 1 and the sleeve 4, and thus effect the opening of the valve, the closing of the valve being effected by the revolution of the pinion 24, which will, as hereinbefore described, cause the sleeve 4 to rotate on the screwthreaded shaft l and move backward, thus closing the valve of the engine.

The groove shown on the sleeve 4 and collars 11 may be omitted, in which event the spring-rods 10 may be provided with collars 25,Fig. 1,to prevent twisting of the springs 9.

I do not confine myself to the use of the valve-operating mechanism herein described, in conjunction With a steering-engine, as said mechanism may be used on engines employed for other purposes, and in particular where the motion for 'the Work required is of an intermittent character. If it be used in conjunction with a steering-engine, such engine may be of anydesired construction, operated by any motive power.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating rod; a ring or annular casting loosely mounted on said rod so as to slide thereon, and connected with the valve; and a spring or springs on both sides of said ring.

2. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating rod; a ring loosely mounted on said rod so as to slide thereon and'connected with the valve; fixed and movable collars; and a spring or springs between said collars on both sides of said ring.

In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating rod 5 a ring adapted to slide thereon, and to be connected with the valve; a spring or springs on both sides of said ring; a pinion secured to said rod; and a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

4. In a valve-operating mechanism, the

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combination of a reciprocating rod; a ring adapted to slide thereon and to be connected with the valve; fixed and movable collars; a spring or springs on both sides of said ring; a pinion secured to said rod; and a gearwheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

5. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating rod; a ring adapted to slide thereon and to be connected with the valve; a spring or springs on both sides of said ring; a lever connected to said ring; a rod connected to said lever; and a double-armed lever having one arm connected to said rod and its other end to a valve or valve-rod.

6. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating rod; a ring adapted to slide thereon and to be connected with the valve; a spring or springs on both sides of said ring; a pinion secured to said rod; a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion; a lever connected to said ring; a rod connected to said lever; and a double-armed lever having one end connected to said rod and its other end to a valve or valve-rod.

7. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; and a ring or annular casting adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve.

8. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft and ,provided with a grooved surface; anda ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve.

9. In a valveoperating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; and springs on both sides of said ring.

IO. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; iiXed and movable collars; and springs between said collars on both sides of said ring.

Il. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft and provided with a grooved surface; a vring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; and two half-rings between said ring and said sleeve.

12. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft and provided with a grooved surface; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve a spring or springs on both sides of said ring; and two half-rings between said ring and said sleeve.

18. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft and provided with a grooved surface; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; fixed collars secured to said sleeve movable collars provided with grooved surfaces; and springs between said collars on both sides of said ring.

l-l. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of arotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; a pinion secured to said sleeve; and a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

l5. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surroun ding said shaft and provided with a grooved surface; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; a pinion secured to said i sleeve; and a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

lli. In a valve-operatingmechanism, the combination of arotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring or annular casting adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; springs on both sides of said annular casting; a pinion secured to said sleeve; and a gearwheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

17. In a valveoperating mechanism, the combination of arotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; fixed and movablecollars; springs between said collars on both sides of said rings; a pinion secured to said sleeve; and a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

18. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft and provided with a grooved surface; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; fixed collars secured to said sleeve; movable collars provided with grooved surfaces; sp rings between said collars on both sides of said ring; a pinion secured to said sleeve; and a gear-wheel secured to a shaft and meshing with said pinion.

19. In a valve-operating mechanism, the combinati on of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; a sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be connected with the valve; springs on both sides of said ring; a lever connected to said ring; a rod connected to said lever; and a doublearmed lever having one arm connected to said rod and its other arm to a valve or valve-rod.

20. In a valve-operating mechanism, the

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Combination of a rotary screw-threaded shaft; double-armed lever having` one arm Connected e sleeve or nut surrounding said shaft; a ring to Said rod and its other arm to a valve or 1o adapted to slide on said sleeve and to be eonvalve-rod.

neeted Wit-h the Valve` sprinffs on both sides l of said ring; 2L pinionsecurel to said sleeve; JOHN D' VILLIAMSON JR' a gear-Wheel secured to a shaft and meshing Witnesses: with said pinion; a lever connected to said C. VESLEY RUFFELL, ring; a rod connected to said lever; and e VILLIAM D. CLOUDS. 

